The villanelle is a form of highly structured poetry with origins dating back to 16th century France, though some place it earlier. I have used this form here to depict the persecution of Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) practitioners in modern China. Click here to read Part I and Part II.

Featured Image: “Entering the Divine Realm with Purity” by Xiaoping Chen. (falunart.org)

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_Oh Agnes, little model of the pure,
_Oh girl with smiling eyes, and faith so sure:
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3 Responses

Evan, thank you for Part III. It is fitting to use a classical form to speak for the universal principle of religious freedom and on behalf of this group in China. Poets, wherever they live, are members of one family. We all are members of Falun Gong. LIkewise, all poets are cousins of Liu Xiaobo who was in prison when awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He spoke out in defense of Falun Gong in his book, No Enemies, No Hatred. HIs essays and poems inspired my poem that last spring was dropped from balloons, along with poems from poets around the world. over the divided city of Nicosia in Cyprus. I hope my poem, though not in classical form, is a welcome addition to the poetical call for tyrants to fail … and some day to fall.